Washington (CNN) – CNN has established objective criteria – modeled after criteria the network used for the June 13th presidential debate in New Hampshire and the September 12th presidential debate in Florida – to determine who will receive invitations to participate in the October 18th "Western Republican Presidential Debate."

Participants need to meet the threshold outlined below to receive an invitation to this debate:

A person must receive an average of at least 2.00 percent in at least three national polls released between September 1st and October 16th that were conducted by the following organization: ABC, AP, Bloomberg, CBS News/New York Times, CNN, FOX, Gallup, Los Angeles Times, Marist, McClatchy, NBC, Newsweek, Pew, Quinnipiac, Reuters, USA Today and Time.

CNN is partnering with the Western Republican Leadership Conference to present the October 18th "Western Republican Presidential Debate," live from Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Follow all the issues and campaign news leading up to the debate on http://www.cnnpolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter.

CNN to Produce Republican Presidential Primary Debate in Nevada

The Western Republican Leadership Conference (WRLC) announced Wednesday that it has selected CNN to host a Republican presidential primary debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday, October 18, 2011. Nevada has been chosen by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to be one of the first states to vote in the Republican presidential primary process in 2012.

Republican leaders and activists from 16 states and territories that make up the RNC’s Western Region will meet at the The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas during the week of October 17 for the “Western Republican Leadership Conference.” The debate will take place as part of the WRLC’s four-day conference and will provide voters from across the nation an opportunity to hear Republican presidential candidates offer their visions for the future.

"Republicans in Western States will play an important role in determining the next Republican nominee for president," said former Nevada Congressman Jon Porter, chairman of the Western Republican Leadership Conference. "On behalf of the Western Republican Leadership Conference, I am excited to be working with CNN on this important debate. I look forward to hosting our 2012 Presidential candidates, and showcasing their ideas on Western and national issues."

“Nevada is the gateway to the West in the 2012 Republican presidential primary,” said Sam Feist, CNN’s political director and vice president of Washington programming. “This is an opportunity for GOP presidential candidates to speak, in person, to Nevada Caucus-goers as well as voters from the 15 other states and territories represented by the Western Region.”

WRLC attendees will have an opportunity to participate in questioning the candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination. The Western Region includes: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

CNN will also co-host two other debates in 2011 as previously announced. CNN, along with the New Hampshire Union Leader and WMUR-TV, will present a Republican presidential primary debate on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 in Manchester, New Hampshire. On Monday, September 12, 2011, CNN and the Tea Party Express will team up for a debate among the Republican candidates in Tampa, Florida, the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention.

The Western Republican Leadership Conference is a four-day conference designed to educate, motivate and activate Republicans from the Republican National Committee’s Western Region. Hosted by The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas in October of 2011, the event will feature Republican candidates, operatives, leaders and elected officials from around the Western Region and the nation. The WRLC will spotlight Nevada’s new and unique role as the first in the West Republican Presidential nominating contest.

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